By Michael Lindsay
Cumberland County and Livingston Academy will face off in the District 6AA championship for the 5th consecutive season Thursday after both teams won their respective semifinal game Tuesday evening at CCHS.
Cumberland County defeated cross-town rival Stone Memorial 2-1 in double-overtime before Livingston Academy defeated DeKalb County, 9-2.
Tuesday’s first game saw the Lady Jets overcome an early Stone Memorial lead to win via a golden goal with 3 minutes remaining in the second overtime.
Stone Memorial struck first as Lilly Boston, the program’s all-time leading scorer, capitalized on a bad CCHS first touch to find the back of the net to give her team a 1-0 lead midway through the first half.
Cumberland County answered shortly after as a Molly Neal cross found Mariana Alva near the net, where she beat the keeper 1-on-1 for a Lady Jet goal to tie the game at 1.
The 1-1 tie stood for the remainder of regulation and one 10-minute overtime period.
With 3 minutes left in the second overtime, Cumberland County’s Emily Farley sent her team to the district championship game as she connected on a left-footed shot that bent into the goal, giving CCHS a 2-1 victory.
The first game’s drama didn’t translate to the second as Livingston Academy defeated DeKalb County, 9-2.
Taryn Childers scored 6 goals to lead the Lady Wildcats, followed by Tara Hinds with 2 and Jazmine West with one.
Ella Copeland racked up 3 assists, followed by Hinds, West and Lauren Storie with 1 each.
Cumberland County (12-6-1) and Livingston Academy (15-1) will face off Thursday at 6 p.m. at Cumberland County High School for the District 6AA championship.
The Lady Wildcats defeated the Lady Jets on Sept. 1, 5-1, and are 3-1 against CCHS in district title games since 2018.